TPT September 2013

Technology News

Cold cutting machine to revolutionise pipe replacement

THE Pipeswizard Excalibur cold cutting and bevelling machine is set to revolutionise the pipe bevelling industry, according to its manufacturer, particularly the replacement of pipeline sections in the field. Previous chain driven cold cutting machines have been limited by the wall thickness they are capable of bevelling. This is because the designs, many of which are 30 years old, are unable to cope with the rigours of modern pipelines. PSW was given the contract to redesign and manufacture the Mathey CGM machine in 2007. Its own product, the Excalibur, has been developed as a result of listening to the people who use the machines, and incorporating their suggestions and requests. The Excalibur is capable of severing pipe with a wall thickness of up to 2"; some competing machines can only

Pipeswizard Excalibur pipe cutting and bevelling machine

cope with wall thicknesses up to ½". The Excalibur also offers a wide variety of bevels, including J prep, U prep and compound bevel. Three drive options are available: hydraulic, pneumatic and electric. The hydraulic unit is powered by either an electric or a diesel driver power pack, also manufactured and supplied by PSW. This delivers 72l/min at 100 bar pressure for optimal performance. The pneumatic unit requires a compressor capable of delivering 10 bar at 4,000l/min, while the electric unit runs from a three-phase power supply. The hydraulic- and pneumatic-driven Excalibur machines are explosion proof, and can therefore be used on pipes that have previously transported oil or gas. Due to its electrical components, the electric-driven Excalibur machine is suitable for use in fabrication shops/yards, but is not suitable for use in explosive environments. The Excalibur has a tracking accuracy of 0.3mm on a 36" pipe (reduced to 0.05mm when used with an optional guide track), and is capable of cutting and bevelling 1" wall thickness X70 pipe at over 30mm/min. It is also able to work on vertical pipe. The customer only has to order the required chain length and cutting blades to make the machine fully functional, straight from the box; there are no ‘hidden extras’ such as hoses, tools or wheels. Manufactured in the EU, and issued with full CE and Conformity certification to 2006/42/EC, the Excalibur conforms to all relevant EU safety regulations.

PSW Consultants (engineering) Ltd – UK Fax: +44 2476 373403

Email: sales@pipeswizard.co.uk Website: www.pipeswizard.co.uk

94

www.read-tpt.com

S eptember 2013